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Saturday, May 5, 2012

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

One of my favourite adopted holidays is CINCO DE MAYO! I can't remember when my family and I first started enjoying it, but it was probably my idea, because I'm wacky that way. We would try to make a traditional Mexican meal, like enchiladas, which, by the way, is DIFFICULT because it seems to be nearly impossible to find CORN tortillas in your basic grocery store around here!

We'd also make guacamole to have with corn chips, and Mom made these delicious Mexican anise cookies, and a MUST HAVE: FLAN! Ah flan--the delicious, baked caramel custard.

We slurp back rum & cola with a splash of TEQUILA (I know...it's kinda not very Mexican, but whatevs), and listen to traditional music. It's a lot of fun, because let's face it--we're fairly boring here in North America, and any holiday that involves drinking is WICKED GOOD TIMES IN MY BOOKS.

I love Mexico so much. I'm saddened about the way things have changed there. I've been there twice, years ago, and when I close my eyes I can still see the friendly sun-browned people moving leisurely in the early morning, getting ready to start their day. I can picture the open air restaurant where we had the most wonderful chicken soup, homemade corn tortillas and chicken in a delicious sauce, cooked in banana leaves until it fell off the bone. I can see that restaurant, sitting in the sun, on a dusty road, with clear plastic bags filled with water hanging to keep flies at bay. I can remember the smell of cilantro coming from the people, the houses, the food, and those balmy days and times of unbelievable, baking heat. Mexico: one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

I love good Mexican food, but most Tex-Mex-type restaurants here are awful, everything tastes the same. I could just trough my way through a bowl of guacamole with tortilla chips right about now!Your evocation of Mexico had me sighing for some heat and a HOLIDAY!Btw, I wanted to comment on your very touching last post. What a sad story, but how lovely that you still remember your first love and good friend. xxxxx